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They say props don't win prizes, well maybe it's about time they did. Jannie du Plessis has been a tower of strength all season for both the Sharks and the Springbok scrum and was one of only three Springboks to make the team of the tournament for the Rugby Championship. Playing in a position where hard graft and contributions are seldom acknowledged won't help his chances of winning though. (Michael Sheehan / Gallo Images)

Elton Jantjies is the only player out of ten from outside the Sharks and WP to crack a nomination. That's testament to a player who has done incredibly well, even as his team has sometimes struggled. His lack of game-time in a Springbok jersey might hamper his chances to win the award, despite an outstanding season.
(Duif du Toit / Gallo Images)

Willem Alberts was huge in the latter part of Super Rugby and at his destructive best in the Test series against England where he broke the line at will. His ability to cross the gain-line is unmatched in SA, although his patchy early season form for the Sharks in Super Rugby could count against him. (Gallo Images)

Eben Etzebeth has been a revelation all season long for both the Boks and WP, great at set-pieces, stealing the opposition's lineout, big in the rucks, high workrate. It's as if someone cloned Victor Marfield and Bakkies Botha combining both of their best attributes. To cap all of this he's only 20 years old. The only blip on his season was a moment of madness against the Wallabies where he headbutted Nathan Sharpe. (Gallo Images)

Bryan Habana has been in the form of his life this year. His hat-trick against the Wallabies will probably be chalked down as the performance of the season and he broke Christian Cullen's long-standing try-scoring record for the Tri-Nations. He also extended his record for the most tries by a Springbok to 47. Hard-working, industrious and game-breaking, his only weakness has been occasionally being exposed for his temptation to go for the intercept in defence. (Gallo Images)

Patrick Lambie's has been the best performer since the Springboks returned to the Currie Cup by some margin and has almost made Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's hesitation to pick him look silly. However, failing to settle into one position during Super Rugby and not nailing down a Springbok jersey may hamper his chances of winning the award. (Gallo Images)

Siya Kolisi has been one of the finds of the season as he seemed to emerge from virtual obscurity during the Stormers' injury crisis to emerge as one of their key players in an impressive Super Rugby season. However, a cruel and untimely injury that occurred just as Kolisi appeared as if he was about to crack his first Springbok cap ruled him out of the business end of the Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup, which will almost certainly hurt his chances of winning the award. (Gallo Images)

This was the year Bismarck du Plessis moved out of John Smit's shadow. He was the best hooker in Super Rugby by some margin and one of the stand-out players in the Test series against England before a cruel injury ended his season. Short memories from the SA fans won't help his cause to capture the award. (Gallo Images)

Keegan Daniel has led from the front at the Sharks. One of the few players to excel both in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup, he has produced a consistently high standard all season long. The only blip on his season was his one outing in a Springbok jersey this season, where he failed to do enough to impress Heyneke Meyer. Will his lack of game-time in a Springbok jersey count against his chances? (Gallo Images)

JP Pietersen has been in sublime form this season for the Sharks. He also showed his versatility by playing at centre when the Sharks needed him to during Super Rugby. The holes that appeared in the backline in the Springbok defence in his injury-enforced absence once again demonstrated what an unsung hero he is for the Boks. Must be considered one of the dark horses in the race for the award. (Gallo Images)

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